Category Archives: Couples

I never thought I would do this and I don’t plan on doing this often — I am not a *re-blogger* but this is too good not to share. It’s a quick read, a fine example of try, try and keep on trying until you succeed and proves, once again, that humility is the backbone of success.

On a side note, I am working on a new post and, being a perfectionist-writer, I can’t post it until it’s right (in my head and on paper) and it’s not right yet. It’s a difficult post for me, for some reason. But I’ll get it right and share when I do. Thank you for your patience…. Franny

Hey y’all! In my career I’ve met a lot of achievers, both famous and not so famous and I loved collecting their stories. One thing they all had in common was an absolute blind refusal to give up when the load became too heavy. The ability to pick oneself off the ground…(yet again!) and dust off the seat of our pants is in all of us. If you are experiencing tough times this little series of stories is for you. For some folk, who seem to have been handed it all on a plate, their stories will surprise you!

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The Author

Professional LA thinker by day, busy writer by night, solo mom to John and Katie, two wonderful adult "kids"; one adorable little Chihuahua puppy, Sydney, and my beautiful, loyal and kind, older heeler named "Puppy" (it's a long story). And as life is always changing I recently learned that my son is going to be a father!

Recent Posts: Recipes and Relationships

Originally posted on THE EDITOR'S JOURNAL: Hey y’all! In my career I’ve met a lot of achievers, both famous and not so famous and I loved collecting their stories. One thing they all had in common was an absolute blind refusal to give up when the load became too heavy. The ability to pick…

Dear Gary, It’s a lot easier said than done, eh? I mean, here we are, moving along and easily connecting the dots of our lives to The Rules and seeing the relationship between the two. This is taking shape and actually makes a great deal of sense. Then wham, we hit a road block and get stuck. This helps me […]

Dear Gary, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to talk to you this morning before you hit the sack. I didn’t stumble out of bed until noon! Granted I caught up on some well-needed sleep but getting up at noon is such a waste to me. Of course, night came quickly and I was still sipping cappuccino! Sleeping ’til noon is so unlike me, eh? Now that the […]

Dear Gary, Hi! Hey, remember in my last email I mentioned that we planned to spend the weekend creating new recipes and cooking up a storm? Well, this is what we did and I can’t wait to tell you all about it and show you some photo’s, too! I love having a kitchen to cook in again. I […]

Date: March 7, 2014 Email to: Gary From: Franny Re: Coming around-finally! Dear Gary, Good morning Babe! Well, you were right. I was barely awake before my lazy Saturday had been commandeered by my sister, Leslie. That didn’t take her long, huh? Guess I can honestly claim that my jet lag is officially over (which is good — considering I drove […]

My Sweetest (Favorite) Blog: : Bake This Cake!

We’re sharing the old kitchen custom of the super moist chop-and-stir cake. Once your sweets are chopity chopped, you can quickly swirl together a sweet apple cake batter with a big wooden spoon to make an awesome cake for a crowd. Preferably using a wooden spoon with some history to it. One that’s been serving the family for years. ‘Cause there’s not one electric mixer in sight! Dust it with powdered sugar and that’s a wrap-and-take!

We’re kicking it up hip and cool historic with an Old-Fashioned Maple Syrup Cake made with pure maple syrup. You’ll need 2 cups of good maple syrup for the cake and the Old-Fashioned Maple Fosting made with one egg white and a cup of boiled syrup.

We need some love right now, all of us. A big group hug. And we’re thinking we all deserve a comfy-cozy sweet and buttery Election Cake sprinkled through with pecans and a medley of dried fruit soaked in spiced rum. Okay, admittedly, the liquor in this cake kicks up the chill-out factor. In fact, this […]

We’re resurrecting a little slice of American cake history with this very vintage homemade pumpkin spice layer cake recipe slathered with fresh pumpkin butter custard frosting, oh way. It might even awaken something meaningful for you the way that autumn spice aromas can tug mysteriously at our hearts.

My Favorite Photography site:: While Wandering

Since it’s beginning in 1881, driving through “The 17 Mile Drive ” in the early morning hours, has been a dynamic road trip and a “must see.” As you enter this drive there are special mansions that have graced this ocean seascape for years which I never tire of seeing. They are a familiar part of this […]

We have a family house in Snelling, California, in the Central Valley on the banks of the ice-cold Merced River. My brother designed this lovely country house as a gathering place for the times when our family is able to visit together, and of course, for some long needed R&R. This is “Gold Country” ! We eat good […]

California Fall colors burst out in a panoply of yellows, green and reds in and about the northern part of the state in September and October. Since my last Fall shoot in the Bishop area, I got this nagging feeling that I was missing something too beautiful to pass up. Yellow glowing Aspen in the […]

Once I discovered there were blooming displays of yellow Aspen in an area east of the Sierra range, I decided I would make this trip and keep coming back. This is one of those come-back trips and it is fascinating to discover that there is always a new adventure and pleasure to be found here. […]

Colorful palettes and artists abound in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Painters painting on the beaches or along the pine forest are fun to see — with their easels in locked position and their brushes flowing oils on stretched canvas. The artists are always friendly, inviting passersby to watch as they dash off the countryside with sable brush in […]

Charming Cottages and Breathtaking Ocean Homes Hansel and Gretel cottages or homes of modern beachfront architecture line the winding shore. The flowers of an English country garden flourish amongst the cypress trees behind picket fences. Here and there are placed an assortment of driftwood carvings that give the scene a quaint seascape flair. In Carmel, […]